Plasma cutters - what's good and what sucks?

[Gwamp]

I am looking at buying a plasma cutter for my shop in 1-2 months. The two models that fit my needs and price range are these:

Hobart (http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&category=45030&item=3821486762)

Miller (http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&category=45030&item=3821488269)

Lincoln (http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&category=45030&item=3821486396)

Thermal Dynamics (http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&category=45030&item=3821486396)

Anyone have any feedback on these or comparable models?

[fj40guy]

Hypertherm 380 (http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&category=45030&item=3820152694)

Hypertherm would be my first choice.

What are you planning on cutting? It is a small machine, and if you plan on doing anything more than 1/4" steel plate, really look at moving up the the Hypertherm 600.

Tom :usa:

[71RCKCRZR RYAN]

one brand ya missed that a lot of people have is.........hypertherm sp?

i have the 350...same as the 380 and love it...ive had it for about 3 years and have never had any probs....it will cut 1/2 if ya really need but with a fresh tip it will cleanly cut 3/8 no prob.

its in the same price range as the others....

nomatter which one you buy it will soon become your favorite tool:)

[71RCKCRZR RYAN]

oops took too long...:)

[jstarnes]

I have been told that the consumables for the thermaldynamics plaz are the cheapest (price wise)

[dumass]

Hypertherm would be my first choice.
Hypertherm 600.Tom :usa:

Powermax 600
price with 25' manual torch - $1,995.00
price with 25' machine torch - $2,195.00

Portable unit with recommended 3/8" capacity. Operates on 230 volt current. Output - 40 amps. Weight - 47 lbs.

Standard Equipment:
Power Supply
Quick-disconnect Torch with 25' cable
Spare Consumables
Work Cable with Clamp
15 feet (4.5 m)
Primary Power Cable
http://www.torchmate.com/plasmacutters/600.jpg
Ditto on the hypertherm, go 600 from the gate. Cheap consumables and it doesnt burn them fast either. I bought the 115/230v 380 so I could use it where I didn't have 230v available. It didn't work well with either voltage. 600 does very well up to 3/8. I'm pretty "demanding" but manufacturers need to stop with the "13.2" viewable screen" bull$hit. Just say what it really does.

[socalchef]

i just bought an HTP microcut 300 with a couple buddies. it's 220, very small, and very handy. it was on sale for $750 direct from HTP. i really like it. only times i wish i had a larger unit are when cutting 1/4" plate for mounting plates, the duty cycle kicks in before i finish everything up. cool thing about it is it just shuts off and won't kick back in until it's ready to go. came with a dryer for the air line as well. i think it's made in italy.

shitty pic for comparison purposes, i can get another later on, but the plate here was cut with it, no cleanup on it.
http://abendig.com/randompics/sliders/sliders2.jpg

[Aaronn]

hypertherm powermax 380...it's one of my favorite tools :)

[Gwamp]

OK, getting some recommendations for the Thermal Dynamics and the Hypertherm. Mostly for the Hypertherm. I figured this thread would be full of recommendations for blue, red, white, and yellow boxes. my total budget for this is about $1300 and that has to include a line and circle cutter. I cut ALOT of circles and the circle cutter is a must.

[64Trvlr]

Add my vote for Hypertherm. Call around and get some prices or package deal, it may be worth saving for a little while longer to get a bigger machine.

[heavytlc]

I had a Thermal Dynamics 380, I burned it up twice. Fixed under warranty, the local shop gave me a ESAB 500 as a loner. I went ahead a bought a 780ESAB, it is great, parts life is excellent. IT was $1325+tax. I would buy the biggest you can afford.
BTW I was burning up my main boards, because the table My plasma is under was touching the welding table, it was grounding out when I was cutting. I have since insulated the plasma from the shelf it is on. I am very thankful for a good warranty.

[Foxfab]

I have a Lincoln Pro-Cut 55 and I love it. Consumables are @ $5 for the set on the torch.

[fj40guy]

Also noted the Hypertherm 600 for $1435 ebay (http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&category=45030&item=3820152721)

As to circle and straight lines.... my Hypertherm 900 has a cup just about 1" diameter. I cut templates 1/2" bigger out of 1/4" fiberboard. Add a 1/4" standoff underneath them. Toss onto the metal, toss some scrap metal on top (to help hold it down) and use it. Ditto on straigh lines, just a straight piece of scrap. Move it 1/2" over, and just go for it.

Dumbest thing I did... bought a CNC cutting tip for my 900. Haven't used it, but that was a $400 torch! Finally realized the way to go would be had a "hand grip" and use the standard tip for CNC cutting. Yep, another project that has been on long time hold.

Tom :usa:

[Rudezuk]

We have been using the Thermal Dynamics cutmaster 50.......Awesome unit!!

Never any problems with it, cut sheetmetal all the way to 1/2" single pass:D

[bluesman2a]

Just ordered a Thermal Dynamics 101... Haven't seen it yet, but that's where my research took me. I like the idea of the quick disco torch, additional lengths you can add on the whip, and one-size gun/consumables...

My previous machine was the Miller Spectrum 375... It was OK up to about 3/16 but beyond that it was a PITA.

[KS Toy]

Don't forget ESAB. You can't go wrong with them.

What about Miller? Anyone have or use one?

[Gwamp]

ESAB would be great, it just is out of my price range. I used an ESAB plasma when I was going to welding school and they worked just fine. I cannot remember the model #. It seemed to go through consumables pretty fast, but I am sure that was mostly due to morons abusing the tips, etc

I have used both patterns and circle cutters to do my work and I am about half again as fast and neater with the circle cutter as with the patterns so that is a must at least for me.

[Fueler]

i bought the Hypertherm 380 off ebay...shipped to my door for 1049 buck-a-zoids. does everything i need it to do. to cleanly cut 3/8's just throw a new tip in there and go kinda slow. my biggest issue is my POS air compressor cant keep up with long cuts. cut quality goes down the shitter when your compressor sucks.

[DMS1]

I have the MILLER SPECTRUM 375 CUTMATE and it works fine. I bought it off the internet from cyberweld.

[AthlonAJ]

Another nod for Hypertherm, I've had the 380 for 3 years now and let me say I'm hard on tools. Never had a problem with it and it gets used every single day for business.

[HaWiiLuVeR]

chalk up one more for the hypertherm. got a 350 at home that ive had for years. bought it from a buddy that needed cash who had it for a little while before that. works great still.

[LazyDog]

another vote for Hypertherm. I have a 600 at home and it rocks. IMO, cutters are like welders: buy the absolute biggest you can afford :D

[D60]

I bought my ESAB to cut steel. It cuts steel. I'm happy.

It was on closeout from Norco-inc (old unit, like 1997 NIB). $1400. Allegedly rated to cut 7/8" and sever 1.25. I've never tried thicker than 1/2, but I suspect most plasmas are rated like many welders: it might do what they claim, but it's gonna do it slow, therefore you don't want to be at the max rating of your plasma or welder most of the time, so buy more than you think you need so you can *comfortably and easily* cut less frequently.

[lsloth]

one brand ya missed that a lot of people have is.........hypertherm sp?

i have the 350...same as the 380 and love it...ive had it for about 3 years and have never had any probs....it will cut 1/2 if ya really need but with a fresh tip it will cleanly cut 3/8 no prob.

its in the same price range as the others....

nomatter which one you buy it will soon become your favorite tool:)

There is a 350 for sale in my local bargin post for 500 bucks. Is there anything to look for on these that breaks often or expensive to replace? I am really wanting to get it even though the wife is going to kill me.

[socalchef]

i have an HTP microcut 300 and i dig it. it's 220. cuts 1/4" clean but a little slow. it rated for just over 1/4". a big plus for me is it's tiny. the size of a shoe box. not a boot box, like old school slip on vans. was $750 through HTP.

[SeanP]

timely thread, I just ordered the Hypertherm 1250 yesterday. Harris Welding Supplies has ebay ads all the time for $2550. I am going to be using this for my CNC plasma table that will be here in 2 weeks. Yes, I am finally starting the business I always wanted to. If there is enough demand from the 4x4 community (not my main veritcal market) I will buy a yellow star and pimp my services. The CNC allows me to take any .dxf, .bmp, .eps, et al and cut it out, up to 1.187" thick.

SeanP

[DVST8R]

Well my vote is for hypertherm. We have a 1650 that burns 10hrs a day 6 days a week, and has been for nearly a year with no down time, and good use of consumables. I know its a little bigger then what your intrested in, but I would asume the same quality in all of there products.

[BlueTorch]

HyperTherm 1000 here. Slices like a hot knife through butter!!! I personally like the Hypertherm line the best. I have owned a few other brands and like this one the best.

Thanks,
Dan

[Gwamp]

Thanks for the good info and reviews. looks like I will be going with the Hypertherm 380. Most of what I cut is 1/4 and under so it will suit my needs perfectly.

[mantis]

I have the MILLER SPECTRUM 375 CUTMATE and it works fine. I bought it off the internet from cyberweld.

I too have a Miller 375, and it works great :)